| You should know this by now: Computers can and do | | | | Here are a few options for backing up your data in |
| fail. And nasty viruses can take down your system | | | | the form of a hard copy: |
| by creeping through your antivirus software and | | | | * AIT Tape |
| firewall. | | | | * CD-R, CD-RW |
| The problem is that you usually get no warning | | | | * DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD+R |
| before it's too late. Puff! Your data is gone. | | | | * Flash Memory Card Products |
| This has happened to more than a few | | | | * R/W Magneto Optical Disks & WORM |
| businesspeople. In extreme cases, it has put | | | | * 1/2" Tape Cartridges |
| companies out of business. And the worst part is this: | | | | * LTO Ultrium Tape |
| It's completely avoidable. By backing up your data, | | | | * QIC 1/4" Data Cartridge |
| you can retrieve all or most of what you lose. | | | | * Jaz & Zip Disks |
| Yes, yes, I hear some of you snickering about the | | | | * DLT tape / SDLT Tape |
| hassle involved. Indeed, there is a hassle involved. But | | | | * SLR / MLR Cartridges |
| you owe it to yourself -- and your business -- to | | | | For anyone who uses a computer on a regular basis, |
| take stock of your backup plan (or lack thereof) by | | | | data backup is very important. When you backup |
| reviewing these tips. Most Important: Back up Your | | | | your data, you are storing your files on a disk or |
| Customer Databases and Payroll Records | | | | drive separated from your primary computer. In this |
| What's the heart and soul of your company? People | | | | way, if anything occurs to your computer or damage |
| have different opinions, but certainly your customer | | | | comes to your file on the computer, then you still |
| or client database has to rank high. | | | | have your data in backup so that you can restore it |
| Inside one or two data files are all the nitty-gritty | | | | onto your original machine or another machine. This |
| details including what they buy, when they buy, how | | | | allows you to keep your data even if great damage |
| they pay and so forth. Contact lists also are | | | | comes to your computer. No one wants to have |
| databases, and you might have yours combined with | | | | their system crash and then discover that all of their |
| your customer list. | | | | data is gone because they made no backups. |
| So, where would you be if you lost your database? | | | | There are many methods for backing up your data. |
| How would you feel if you attempted to open your | | | | All that is required is to store your information on a |
| database and it wasn't there? Not good, I'll bet. So | | | | drive or disk separate from your primary computer. |
| you should be backing up your database. | | | | If you operate on a home LAN system, for example, |
| Also mission-critical for backups are your employee | | | | you can transfer your files to the other computers |
| payroll records. You don't want to lose the | | | | on your network and in this way ensure that even if |
| information that you have to report to the Internal | | | | one computer fails you will still have your files on |
| Revenue Service. Your employees don't want | | | | another computer. There are also online backup |
| problems with the IRS, either. And they certainly | | | | systems where you can store your data on an online |
| don't want to be paid late. | | | | server. |